The state wants BOEM to identify "at least" four new sites capable of accommodating 800MW of capacity. It has submitted an area for consideration located 32 kilometres from shore, which it said was "best suited" for offshore wind projects.
"The state identified the area for consideration after rigorous fieldwork, analysis, and stakeholder consultation that included consideration of sensitive habitats," the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) said.
"The advancement of four or more new wind energy areas within the area for consideration as requested by the state will encourage competition, help reduce costs, and provide New York with enough capacity to meet its commitment of 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind by 2030," NYSERDA added.
The state has set a target to source 50% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.
NYSERDA CEO Alicia Barton said: "The state has already seen an extraordinary level of private sector interest in offshore wind development, which will reap benefits for the state including significant investments in coastal communities, locally-produced clean energy, and cleaner communities."
In December, Norwegian firm Statoil won the licence to build an offshore wind project in BOEM's New York lease area auction, following a highly competitive 33 rounds of bidding.
And in March, BOEM received an unsolicited bid from the US arm of German wind developer PNE Wind for a 165.6 square kilometre area off New York's Long Island.
The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) voted unanimously in January to approve a 20-year power purchase agreement for Deepwater Wind's 90MW South Fork wind farm, also off New York state.
